Myths Reawakened

For some reason, the four Virtues fell silent.

Purity wasn’t pure and didn’t plan to be pure. Temperance showed no temperance and had been indulging himself. Gentleness wasn’t gentle and had become hot-tempered after his awakening. Generosity... well, Generosity was generous in the wrong way and showed his generosity to only a demon.

If the patterns tracked, Lahr, representing tolerance, and Milia, representing diligence, would similarly show issues.

Oh, why was Mikhael not mentioned? Well, when Pride said that Humility was prideful, the four angels actually agreed, even though they hadn’t said it.

Being overly humble was pride. Mikhael had always been prideful. Even without reincarnation, he had committed the sin of pride in Heaven.

It pained Hesione to think of Milia as diligent in public and a slacker behind closed doors, and of the supposedly tolerant Lahr as a difficult, harsh angel prone to jealousy.

“What’s going on? When did Heaven become like this?”

How could Heaven fare well with you degenerates? x4

“Have you considered that Heaven has always been like this?” Wayne turned around to smile at the four Virtues, which garnered him the scowls of all four angels, Hesione included. To protect the image of Heaven, though, they pretended not to hear him.

“How hypocritical. Heaven will only go downhill...”

Wayne’s mockery got on the four Virtues’ nerves. Hesione slammed the table and said with realization, “I understand now. I know why Father left a prophecy about the Anointed One and specified that the prophecy couldn’t be interpreted until now.”

“Which is?” Auriel asked curiously.

“The Seven Sacred Virtues have fallen ill. All of us have fallen ill after losing Father.” Hesione sighed. “We became the opposite of the virtue we represent. Lacking guidance, we need the Anointed One for salvation.”

“So that’s why...” Auriel’s face darkened. “Yes, we’ve changed. We weren’t like this when Father was around.”

The atmosphere grew heavier.

“Savior doesn’t exist, and you shouldn’t be relying on the Anointed One. You angels are too obsessed with religion.” Wayne shook his head. “I’m different. Everyone can only rely on themselves. Rather than putting your hopes in the Anointed One, it’s better to rely on yourself for salvation.”

“Shut up, you...” Auriel didn’t like what he was saying, but, remembering halfway who Wayne represented now, he said instead, “You Śār Hesione!”

(는_는)

Since when has the sacred name of Hesione become a curse word? Hesione thought. Good insult, though. Keep going, and the Anointed One will distance himself further from you and Mikhael.

“I have my theory about Lahr,” Auriel analyzed. “He, representing tolerance, has fallen ill. He envies the Anointed One for being able to take on a leadership role as soon as he enters Heaven, so he sold the information to Pride and even helped him reincarnate.”

The other three Virtues nodded. Based on their own conditions, they believed Auriel’s theory was valid.

“Our priority now is to find the Anointed One. Only once we find them will Heaven return to normal, and we will be redeemed,” Auriel said. We must do it as soon as we can, though. Pride won’t give up easily. I know him. Someone as prideful as he is will not tolerate failure. He must be planning on opening the gate back in Hell...

“Before, he had to keep a low profile to prevent us from taking notice. Now that he’s exposed, he’ll only double down.

“Londan must not turn into the second Hell. We have to find the Anointed One before Pride does and stop the Gate of Hell from opening!”

The three Virtues didn’t disagree. With the two Śārim’ permission, Gerar finally learned the four crucial traits of the Anointed One.

Resurrected after death! Humanoid but inhuman! A god in the human world! Based in Londan!

“It shouldn’t be difficult to find the Anointed One. Someone like that will stand out anywhere...” Gerar frowned. “Has Pride failed to find the Anointed One because just like reincarnated angels, they seem no different from regular people before awakening? That they’ll only show traits of being inhuman and divine on Earth once they awaken?”

“I believe so. The Anointed One hasn’t awakened.” Auriel and Vilkul nodded in agreement.

Hesione nodded, too. She didn’t want to say much since she had already found the Anointed One. Talking now would risk exposing Wayne.

“Śār Hesione, I’ve been wary of the Lord of Pride since my awakening,” Gerar said. “How about you? You’ve awakened for some time now and have been staying in Londan. Do you have any clues?”

Auriel turned to Hesione, hoping that she hadn’t found the Anointed One.

“I don’t have any.” Hesione shook her head with a bitter smile. “As you said, the Anointed One is most likely a regular human before awakening. There are millions of people in Londan. How would I get any clues?”

Her only answer was that she had no answer.

“That’s troublesome...” Vilkul murmured. “Worst-case scenario, Pride will open the Gate of Hell in Londan and cause great casualties. Perhaps we cannot stop that, and the Anointed One will only die and come back to life during the event, revealing themselves to us.”

Hesione blanched. Yes, if they didn’t take the Anointed One out of Londan, the demon lords would surely return. Worst comes to worst, all Seven Demon Lords might descend. Then all of Windsor would be razed to the ground, not just Londan.

Was it really right for her to keep the Anointed One’s identity a secret when countless innocent lives would be lost?

Hesione bit her bottom lip. Since she was a kind-hearted angel at the end of the day, she didn’t want to see blood flow. She hesitantly said, “Actually—”

“Actually, your concern is unwarranted!” Auriel cut in. “It’s not so easy to open the Gate of Hell. Even if it opens, the demon lords won’t be able to break through Heaven’s seal. They can only descend in a substantially weakened state, so they won’t be our match...”

“It’ll take a lot of time to prepare for the opening of the gate, enough time for us to recover our power in Heaven. In the human world, the demon lords can’t defeat us.”

“...”

Hesione opened her mouth and closed it. That made sense to her.

“We have to be ready, though. There’s one thing that’s been gnawing at me...” Auriel glared at Hesione. “When Śār Hesione defeated the Lord of Envy, the loophole in Heaven’s seal was exposed. To protect her lover in this world, Hesione entered and exited Hell freely right before Pride.”

“That happened?” x2

“You don’t know about that since it’s a privilege reserved for a Śār, a strategic backdoor installed in case Hell returns in full.” Auriel sighed regretfully. “Envy is no fool. He’ll realize that sooner or later, and then all Seven Demon Lords will know. There are Heaven’s bloodlines in Londan that will fit the requirements.”

“What do you mean?” Gerar asked.

“I haven’t come to Londan to sabotage Hesione. I came to keep an eye on Mikhael’s bloodline in the human world!” Auriel started his argument from the highest ground of morality. “Angels’ blood can temporarily weaken Heaven’s seal on Hell. The higher-ranking the angel is, the more effective their blood, and the Gate of Hell will be temporarily opened to allow a Śār free passage...”

“The Windsor family is in great danger. We cannot kill Mikhael’s descendants, so we have to keep a close eye on them.”

That’s far-fetched. Complete nonsense! x2

Even after the Queen, Prince, and Princess awaken their bloodline, they won’t be true Śārim. We only have to worry about Hesione and you keeping your blood to yourselves. x2

Hesione didn’t partake in the conversation. She had mustered the courage to tell them that Wayne was the Anointed One, but after Auriel interrupted her, she couldn’t do it. The Anointed One was Heaven’s future and the successor that the Heavenly Father selected. Whoever found him would be the greatest hero in Heaven and would naturally be the Anointed One’s right hand.

That was why Auriel and Hesione had descended. Neither wanted the other to find the Anointed One.

As for whether they planned to use the Anointed One to command the other Śārim, Hesione didn’t have that in mind, but she believed Mikhael did. She had to be careful. Of course, it would be best if she could gain the Anointed One’s goodwill and continue to be the most favored Seraph.

Hesione felt like she had contracted a serious illness. Not only was her body impure, but so was her thinking. She was ignoring the risks of lives being lost for her selfish desire.

She was impure. She needed the Anointed One’s lessons, preferably late at night. She hoped that he would advise her on what to do and whether she should tell everyone that the Anointed One was right there.

Yes, that man who had been playing cards and mocking the Virtues was the Anointed One.

***

After the meeting, Auriel and his subordinates stayed at Buckingham Palace, while Hesione and Hestia followed Wayne out. Under the night sky, Hesione drove the black car to the manor of the High Reverend of Moonlight. She glanced at Wayne, who was resting, through the rearview mirror, and then at Hestia, who was trying to claim an already claimed spot. She felt conflicted.

“Boss, if you know who the Anointed One is, would you tell them?”

“Of course.” Wayne opened his eyes and offered a suggestion. “But first, I’d make sure if that person truly is the Anointed One. I can’t allow my imagination to lead me to misidentify the Anointed One.”

“I understand. I’ll—”

“You’d better think carefully before saying anything.”

“I...”

“Let’s talk tomorrow. Tonight, Hestia will keep watch. You’re coming in with me so that I can introduce Mina to you.”

“...” x2

Damn it, Hestia seethed. Do Thrones deserve to watch the door? When are Thrones going to rise?

You’re right, Hesione thought. Can someone like you really be the Anointed One?

***

Hell.

Where dark clouds shrouded, seven figures sat in a line. Envy slammed the table and snarled while five other demon lords burst out laughing.

Sloth didn’t laugh because that was too much hassle.

“Damn Pride, you’re swaying them again!

“You must believe me. There’s something wrong with the seal. I caught Hesione and was going to drag her to Hell through the Gate, but she bypassed the seal and escaped!

“Heaven has tampered with the seal. We’re in great danger now. The army of angels could invade at any moment.

“Stop laughing, you bastard. You have to believe me!”

“Kekekeke—”

“Stop looking for excuses, Envy,” Pride said. “You didn’t catch Hesione because the real Hesione hasn’t lost her purity. You couldn’t capture her since this is nothing but a vain lie.”

“Bastard, you’re too prideful, Pride!” Envy growled.

“How else should I react? Should I believe your nonsense and suspect that angels can freely enter Hell? You once had an angel under your command, and you’ve made him fall. Why couldn’t he do it? If you can’t explain that, you must be lying!”

Pride pressed on. “Now I understand. You’re not the Lord of Envy, but the Lord of Lies!”

“Bastard, I challenge you to a duel!!!”

Bam!

Crash! Clang!

That day, Envy was mocked by Pride for his ‘lies’ and, in the heat of the moment, challenged him to a duel, receiving another one-sided beating. Envy continued to be the number one joke in Hell.

The demons called the Lord of Lies the Lord of Jokes, in charge of entertainment in Hell, or he could also be the Lord of Clowns. The happiness of demons depended on him.